Clay City in Powell County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Clay City Timber Industry / Early Iron Works

By Don Morfe, April 15, 2014

1. Clay City Timber Industry-Side 1

Inscription.

Clay City Timber Industry, also, Early Iron Works. .

Clay City Timber Industry . -With Kentucky Union Railway Company's track laid in Powell Co. in 1886, the area's timber industry expanded. Red River Lumber Mills (1880)became largest steam powered sawmill in Ky. In 1890, the steady run began at one of America's largest timber processing plants. A 1906 mill fire and deforestation of area's timber led to the end of "boom days" in Clay City.

Early Iron Works . -Though there is evidence of iron production in area even earlier, land was bought for this purpose, 1805, by Robert Clark Jr. and Wm. Smith. Known as Clark & Smith's Iron Works, 1805-1808. A blast furnace called Red River Iron Works operated here from 1808 to 1830. Rebuilt as Estill Steam Furnace on another site; closed in 1869. Presented by Red River Hist. Soc. with ISTEA Funds.

Clay City Timber Industry

-With Kentucky Union Railway Company's track laid in Powell Co. in 1886, the area's timber industry expanded. Red River Lumber Mills (1880)became largest steam powered sawmill in Ky. In 1890, the steady run began at one of America's largest timber processing plants. A 1906 mill fire and deforestation of area's timber led to the end of "boom days" in Clay City.

Early Iron Works

-Though there is evidence of iron production in area even earlier, land was bought for this purpose, 1805, by Robert Clark Jr. and Wm. Smith. Known as Clark & Smith's Iron Works, 1805-1808. A blast furnace called Red River Iron Works operated here from 1808 to 1830. Rebuilt as Estill Steam Furnace on another site; closed in 1869. Presented by Red River Hist. Soc. with ISTEA Funds.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 20, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 424 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 20, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

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